PA honors PEFTOK veterans

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 8): PA honors PEFTOK veterans

In recognition of the bravery and sacrifices made by Filipino soldiers during the 1950-1953 Korean War, the Philippine Army (PA) honored PEFTOK veterans with a simple ceremony on Sunday.

PEFTOK refers to the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea.

Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato, Army spokesperson, said that the PA honors and gives its utmost respect and dedication to PEFTOK veterans who showed the world the sterling qualities of patriotism, courage and a steadfast dedication to duty that made the heroic Filipinos to their generation.

Sunday's ceremony had the theme of “Perpetuating The Legacy of Our Korean War Veterans.”

Detoyato said the event was highlighted with the traditional wreath-laying ceremony and floral offering at the Korean War Memorial Pylon, Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

The event was graced by the presence of former President Fidel V. Ramos, PEFTOK Veterans Association President Paterno V. Viloria, President of the Philippine Department of the Korean Veterans Association Um Ick-Ho, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Lee Hyuk, Administrator Ernesto G. Carolina of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Administration (PVAO), members of the PEFTOK Veterans and their dependents, senior officers, enlisted personnel and civilian employees of the PA, and other government officials.

PEFTOK’s mission was to defend the Republic of Korea against communist aggression.

The first PEFTOK, the 10th Battalion Combat Team (BCT) reached South Korea in September 1950.

They were deployed to South Korea in fulfillment of the Philippines pledge of assistance to the United Nations effort to stem North Korea’s communist invasion of South Korea on June 25, 1950.

Massively outnumbered, the 10th BCT with only 900 men withstood the night attack of an entire Chinese army of 40,000 men during the Battle of Yuldong in North Korea on April 23, 1951.

Considering the strength of the Chinese, all UN forces retreated, except the Filipinos who engaged the Chinese in a bitter close quarter fighting.

The United Nations Command ordered the Filipino forces to disengage but was ignored and instead they engaged the enemy up to the last man.

The 20th BCT relieved the 10th BCT, which returned to the Philippines covered in glory as “The Fighting Tenth” on Sept. 5, 1951.

The 20th BCT again seized Hill Eerie, a strategic observation post that proves invaluable to PEFTOK in the coming battles against the Chinese.

The 19th BCT, which replaced the 20th BCT, emerged victorious after a fierce four-day battle to defend Hill 191 and Hill Eerie on June 21, 1952.

This gory “Battle for Combat Outpost No. 8" inflicted heavy losses on the Chinese.

Triumphant Filipinos planted the Philippine Flag on the summit of Hill 191 to proclaim their victory over the Chinese.

On March 26, 1953, the 14th BCT took over the PEFTOK colors in Korea.

It was then followed by the last PEFTOK contingent, the 2nd BCT which arrived in Korea on April 19, 1954 and returned to the Philippines in June 1955.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=681592